Phoenix police to test DNA of all male Hacienda HealthCare employees after patient in vegetative state gave birth

January 9, 2019

A woman in a vegetative state gave birth in late December at Hacienda HealthCare in Phoenix, Arizona. (Ross D. Franklin / AP)

All male employees at the Phoenix healthcare facility where a patient gave birth despite a decade-long vegetative state will have to undergo DNA testing, the company announced Tuesday.

Phoenix police served Hacienda HealthCare with a search warrant in an ongoing investigation into the sexual assault of an unidentified woman, who gave birth on Dec. 29.

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“Hacienda stands committed to doing everything in our power to bring this police investigation to a quick conclusion,” the facility said in a statement to Arizona’s Family.

“We will continue to cooperate with Phoenix Police and all other investigative agencies to uncover the facts in this deeply disturbing, but unprecedented situation.”

The woman, who had suffered a near-drowning before going into a vegetative state more than 10 years ago, would have been unable to consent to sex or fend off an assault.

The San Carlos Apache Tribe revealed Tuesday that the woman was a member of their tribe.

“I am deeply shocked and horrified at the treatment of one of our members,” chairman Terry Rambler said in a statement.

“When you have a loved one committed to palliative care, when they are most vulnerable and dependent upon others, you trust their caretakers. Sadly, one of her caretakers was not to be trusted and took advantage of her. It is my hope that justice will be served.”

Late Monday, Hacienda CEO Bill Timmons tendered his resignation.

“I want to assure our patients, their loved ones, our community partners, the agencies we do business with, Governor Ducey and the residents of Arizona, we will continue to cooperate with Phoenix Police and the investigating agencies at all levels in every way possible,” Gary Orman, the executive vice president of the Hacienda board, said in a statement to Arizona’s Family.

“And we will do everything in our power to ensure the safety of every single one of our patients and our employees.”